I am broken. In truth, we are all broken - more than we know. But I feel at this moment that I am broken more than most. And I have been for some time. It is why I have made many of the poor decisions that have brought me to where I am today.

God knows that we live in a broken world. He knows that we ourselves are broken. And in His grace, He is always there to guide us. But in our brokenness, we cannot always hear His voice. The world and the voices in our own heads often are so loud that we cannot hear God. Sometimes, in His grace, God shouts to us to make things clear. But more often than not, God chooses to work through His church. Jesus established the church for many reasons. But one of the greatest reasons - and one that is spoken of often in scripture - is for the strengthening of the saints.

After the Fall of man, we lost our direct connection to God. While we can regain a relationship with God through Christ, that relationship will never be fully restored in this life. And as such, we often walk in His will wearing foggy glasses. Yes, we can still follow Christ, but if we stray too far away, the path can be easily lost. And that is where the church is most helpful.

The Fall, in addition to breaking our connection with God, broke pretty much everything else as well - including our moral compass. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12) That is why is it vitally important - if you call yourself a follower of Christ - to be deeply involved in a Bible-believing church. One of the church’s greatest responsibilities is to guide those who follow Christ. “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22 - italics added)

The world has it’s own version of counsel as well. It’s called support. Last week, I was told by someone that this person would support me in whatever decisions I made. And while that sounds like love on the surface, it is far from it. And I told this person as much. I do not want support - I want counsel. If I make a decision that is against God’s will, against Biblical principles - or even appears to be unwise - I want to know it. And any Christian truly seeking God will counsel Christians, not merely support them.

During the trial which I am enduring, I have many times thought I was doing what was right, only to be told by multiple counselors that my way was not God’s way. It was this cloud of Godly counselors - leaders in the church and wise men and women - that convinced me that my ways were not God’s ways. And thus I repented and chose to follow God.

I know that neither I nor anyone else will ever be fully healed in this life. My brokenness - at least in part - will follow me to the grave. But Christ is healing me day by day, and the lenses of my spiritual glasses are growing less and less foggy. Even so, I made a choice several weeks ago not to solely trust my own instincts - or even those of my friends who are doing their best to advise me. Instead, I am relying on Godly counselors that Jesus called the church.

One piece of counsel that I was given yesterday by two separate Christian friends was this: stand tall. These Christians did not even know each other, but were given the same word for me. And thus that word is tested and true. And so I am standing tall today, as much as I can. I know that in this time of extreme trial, I am doing all that God and the church is asking of me. And I can do nothing more.

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